Warmblood By Boyd Martin Finding Downtime with Year-Round Eventing R
ight now, the sport of three-day eventing here in the U.S. seems to have an ever-expanding competi- tion season. I’ve been in the States for ten years and I see more and more events in January, and some running right into December. This is clearly a great sign for the sport: it demonstrates that these competitions are in demand and that the sport is healthy, which is good for people like me who rely on eventing for our livelihoods. Even though this is a positive sign
for the industry, the growing number of events also must be measured with caution. As riders and trainers, it’s im- portant to remember our horses are not motorcycles, but living breathing ath- letes that need downtime for rest and recovery. In England, the sport basically shuts down for three
Deb Turcott
months because of the harsh winters. From mid-Novem- ber through mid-February, conditions are generally too wet and muddy to compete. Horses and riders receive a good, long, much-deserved break. In America, the winter climate in the southeast is con-
ducive for our sport: we now have warm-up events in Ocala, Florida and the Carolinas on the first weekend in January, continuing with rated shows all winter. The sport really heats up at the end of March and the beginning of April. As a trainer, you have to look at each horse as an in- dividual and decide what they need to stay happy and healthy. My basic rule is that the horses need three to four weeks of rest in the middle of the year. I usually try to give them time off in July and August, when it’s hot and the ground is hard, and I also like to give them five or six weeks off after the last three-day event of the season at the end of October. Why give our horses a break? First, our sport is physi- cally demanding and the horses pick up constant bruises and micro tears that you might not even realize are there, so we should allow them to heal, freshen up and relax. Second, I believe they need a mental break from the de- mands of training and competing. We’re always pushing to improve our horse’s performance: one day we’re prac- ticing the dressage test, the next the jumping course, then schooling cross-country. It can be exhausting for
90 March/April 2017
both horses and humans. That said, one has to consider each horse as an indi-
vidual. Some of the older horses fall apart if given too long a holiday; they get stiff and old looking, so I might shorten their time off and do some light hacking or other exercise just to keep them moving. Other horses become absolutely wild and furious if they aren’t worked, so I keep a sharp eye on them in case they start charging around their paddocks. When it’s time to bring them back
into work, some horses need to come back slowly. I like to walk them for a week or two, then do some light trot- ting and trail riding and slowly school them into a more serious program.
The other factor to consider is a break for the rider.
Last year I had 170 eventing starts, and by the time the last event rolled around I admit I was well and truly sick of it. I knew I needed to take a break from competing—I was tired and stiff and sore, coming home at 1:00 a.m. on a Sunday and getting up to ride the horses early on Monday. I don’t like feeling burnt out and grumpy. And I never want to work so hard that I begin to hate my ca- reer. Thankfully a family vacation in December had me revitalized in mind and body, and now I’m ready to take on the new year. If we study other professional athletes in other sports,
there are very few who train six days a week, twelve months a year. Football and baseball players, for ex- ample, all have a good rest before they start the new season’s training. With all the demands of cross-training and condi-
tioning, eventing is extremely hard work for both horse and rider. It’s our responsibility to stay on top of how our horses feel and adjust the work accordingly. Assess frequently whether they need a rest or if it’s better to continue the training. If you’re unsure, seek advice from a pro. Only healthy, happy horses (and riders) will be able to give their best.
Four-star event rider Boyd Martin represented the United States at the 2010 World Equestrian Games and the 2012 Olympics. He and his wife Silva, a G.P. dressage rider, own and operate Windurra USA in Cochranville, PA. Learn more about them at
www.boydandsilvamartin.com.
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